Switch box



sept. 25, 192s. 1,685,462

K G. E. PALMER TAL SWITCH Box Filed June 50, 1925 3 SheetsSheet 1 f: rfa) 3" /4 /5 by i l @41 /Y/.S e a k [M i' \\\l`/M Er/Z852 @.Johanss Q51 sept. 25, 192s.

G. E, PALMER ET AL SWITCH BOX Filed June 50, 1925 3 Sheets-Shet 2 u l I l L .L

J Zzven' 2071s Gra nvz'ZZe/ffa Z 772/ e 7 Ermes? Gcohamsson Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,462

y G. E. PALMER ET Al.

, SWITCH BOX Filed June 30, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .fvvenonf Patented Sept, 25, 1928.

narran eiseres GRANVILLE E. PALMER, 0F BROOKLINE,

PATENT OFFICE.-

AND ERNEST G. JOHANSSON, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE PALMER ELEC- TRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- I PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH BOX.

I ,Aepiieation ined June 3o, 1925. serial No. 40,645. f

This invention pertains to switch boxes of the type 4commonly used for enclosim:r the switch which controls the admission of electrical current from a power main to the premises of a purchaser of current, the switchbeing` interposed between the power main and a meter which measures the current delivered. Switchboxes "of this type'iare usuallyr made ofi'metal'and adapted to be sealed or locked to' prevent' unscrupulous persons from surreptitiously diverting current from the main at a point ina'd'vance of the meter. In order toprotechthe eonducting wires intermediate the's'wit'chl box'anfd meten'tlie latteris conimonly mounted in' fixed' relation to the switch box and thelterminal casing'of the meter and tlie'en'dV wallof'tliebox are provided with int'ertitting'par'ts'oirconnected by 'means of a rigid metallic conduit 'therebyproviding an armored passageffor the conducting Wires `le'adilng:fromithelstviteh to the meter..

Since ellectri'cfineters ofidiferent makes and cpcitiesdiaye Adifferently vshaped "terminal casi'ngs it has been'proposed heretofore to provideltli sivi'tclr box removable and interch'aln'g'eab /erdfv'vaill's having different sized openings 'oi"*'socket's -adapted to cooperate Witlr diifei'ent'stylesfand sizes of meter casing since. Under some circumstances, asifor v:e'xarnple`beforeltlie connection of the meter to the-box; it desirable completelv to closetheV end ,of the.: box7 'impertorate en'd walls have also'been provided. .l

While Such removable and interchanfeable endbvalls are toa certain extent useful they have* the` "Qrra'tl disadvantage `'that they are easiljilost or "misplacedA Thecdanger of loss may readilvbe appreciated from the fact that thef'sivi'tch box'isifsiially installed by one set of ivorlrm'en' who leave the box in place but unsealed and with the electrical circuits inop- 'eratliv'el" At'some subsequent time the box and its conductors are inspected representatives of bureaus having jurisdiction in such matters and after inspection the `box may remain for a verv'considerable period before .another set' offworkrnen come to install the meter, make the circuit connections7 and seal the boxlrand meter cases.

The fact that several groups of workmen deal with the switch box at various times and often with considerable periods ottime -intervening is conducive to misplacement'for lossl ot end walls of removable,v interchangeable type. As abovev pointed out it is quite ,desirable completely to close the endiwa'llof the boxbefore the installation of tlxemeter :is the switch box is often installed during zthe early stages of building construction .and dirt, plaster,'Whitewa'sh; ctc., may, unless the box be completely covered` drop into the lat-A ter and Jfoul the switch parts. Thus it. is often the case that the application ofthe closure member or interchangeable 'end wall is neglected and the switch may betound to be in bad conditionv when 'the.Workmenz arrive to install the meter While the loss or I'nisplace ment of the proper end Well may greatly delay installation of the meter'.

In accordance with the presentfinvention we have provided a switch box having an end wall adapted to serve either as a complete closure for the b oxor ivherr'associatedvvith a meter, to provide. theInecessary passage or gire-wav., such wallfbeinsr of l the type adapted to Isupportildnerterls', 'ofjanv of, the usual standardl styles, andjive have solcon-A nected'this improved Wall 'with the box that while movable relativelv tol-thebOXin accordance' ivith' the' conditions which it is adapted to meet, itis notE detachable o r removable from the box .and therefore cannot be lost` orpmispla'ced duringtheperiodnwhicli elapses'betiven the 4setting; of the box and ins tallationofthe Ineterf A :j p

.Usually the `meter` is mounted lipon Orrin Contact wththe upper: endvvall oftheswiteh box althoughit may be arranged adjacent to or against the :bottom of thzelbox`V and While tor convenience in description wehere'infill-ustrate our presentin'vention as'embodied in the upperendivall ofthe box wevcont'emplate that it mar be applied with equal advantage to other Walls of the boxarid do not wish to limit ourselves :is to the particular wall of the box to which the invention may7 be-ap plied.

ln the. accompanying drawings in Which-a meferrod embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example,

'tall Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our improved switch box showing its door closed but partly broken away, and its movable end wall ar: rangedto cooperate ivith an electric meter of one usual type;

Fig. 2 is a similar front elevation showing,r tlieli'p'p'r part 'only of the box with its end will disposed-as in Fig. 15 but showing a mti' f -at-h'e'i' associated theiei'illi;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showingY a. still further form of meter;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper part of the box, the door being open, showing the movable end nill of the boirreyersed relatiyely toits position as indiCatediIi thepreceding figures and having associated therewith a meter of another '.Fig. 5 is a plan Vie'w of the box to larger sC-alehxviith its dooiclosed and with the movable end positioned for the accommodationof meters such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusiye. Y Gis a side elevation of the end wall als it fip'p'eaisbefore application to the boi: andiii Vertical position;

Fig. Tais :Lfiagmentary section oii the lim. 7419i Figs.; Y Figa p la'n View of theimpioved switch box Smaller siciil'e showing the cyei' closed the.' erid wall ldisposed :is in Fig. 4, the Wirencorfduits beingushow'n in section;

Fig. 9 is a plarryw of a removable cover plate foi-,closingr :in aperture in theend vv 'all i 1,0is a fragmentary cr''sssection to larger scale on line 10-10 of Fig. 5:

Eig. 11 is a fragmentary eleyatioiiof the iippcr part of left hand side iall of the bog, Viewed fromthe inside;

wg-Fig 12is agloi'izontal section Asubstantially riltliglin-Q-Z '0f Fis*- 11;

1(Fig. K13 i s ,aperspectiveyien' of the upper part ofthe boipshon'ing thecofver. open and the endiyall positioned as in Fiets. 1, .2 and 3; FifL is a ,`s i i ni1a'r perspective view sho\v 1ng t h e c fer ,wide open andthe end wall rawnfforiyardlyand partially s\'\ung up 'as '1' t,appea'r sv when itis being, reversed :and

Fig. 15 is a perspectiie ,View 'o ft the upper fgyersed as respects the positionshown in tig. andwitl the cover partly closed.

:lkefer'ringto fille drawings, the switch box, which i's prefe'rzi. V of Sheet metal, com; risesft erearfwall 1, vthe vertical lside-walls v a1fid 3, thebottom end wall, 4. th.e ton. 'end Wall 6 and* theflo'or orfeoi'r Pielerahlv this coverj's hinged teorie of the side .walls. fon inple, th'e ivall 2 1and is proi-ide'd tn 'an ap'ertiire '6' normally `vClosed'hy a slide? which gives access the fuse disposed l{vithi t the box. .A suitable handle 8 isarranfed at the rightliaid side'of the. bei. AThis handle 'controls the swiut'chdlifitliin the bor: and also fonstitutes. a lool: for the. slidev which covers Lesa-462 the fuse aperture 6 when the switch is in cir* cuit closing position. The cover is furnished with suitable means, not shown, bywhich it may be locked or sealed in tho usual manner.

'.he rear ivall 1 of the box is furnished with openings for the reception of screws 11 hy means of which' it. is ilttliclied'ih operative position against a suitable supporting' inember. for 'example :i ivall, and' is also fii'i'ii'i'shed with (..p'eii'ngs'l for the reception' o'f other screws 12 by means of iz'hicn a meter supportin g plate 13, shown in broken lines, may be attached to the rear \\'all of the box. These srrcii's 12 may al'soe'ktend into the supporting member and the plate 13 is provided with openingsl'or srrews 14 which also extend inte the n'all. T he plate 13 piioiiidd .'with naam@ retaining devices', lai'nes-ample, bons by means of which a meter M, iridiated in broken lines, may be secured to tlie front face ofthe plate 13.

In accordance with the present invention the top end Walll 6 of thebox is adjustable with respect to the body o f the boi'. This end `wall compris-es plate 1 6 Y: and 12) having flanges 17,ai1d 18resp'eetiyely at its right hand and lefthand edgesandalso a flange 19 extending' aloiligi; ,orlevlof titansverse edges, The flangeslv and 1 8V arefii-- africa 'with enligne sioasje (Figa) naad? inf: from front to rear and s uch slotster'riiif nate at theiroppositcends in ciijeiila'r"open: inrrs 20 and 20- sothat each slot eleet Va douhlekeyjhole slot.

The 'end 'wall 6 is pi vota l1ycon'- ectedfto the body of the box means ofI a pa-irvoflg'iied pivot membeisg21-1 :disposed neen the, nippel: forward -corners, of. the and; re';

specti 1vely. These takethe form ofriyets ht w 7 i ng sha. portions `which ei'gtend through openingsfin thpwalls 2 @d 3 fespectiieyefl,mangime 22e theout'er surfacesof thesidexyallso thejJL .These rivets also h ayef,lroriojit- .1. atfllieafcls 23 at the.innersidesoflhelhoxya such heads being of Aa Vertical thickness s'li'fr'htl`}y less than the itidthoff 'thez slotsA 2( s o that they. may sli de freely relatiyelytqsuh (slots, and having a fronttorear Widthslightly than the. diameter of the .openings QOandQQ. If desired these heads 2 3 may proj ect inward-,- ly bcv on d the inner surfaces oithe angesl'( and 18 of the end Wall-and at.their innerf'ndS ma v h ave tongues 24. direc-ted substantially at right angles to theirffiatheads. .i

. 'The fiat head 230i eachxtiyet 215s normally .flisp'rosed in one of theeircular openings at the end of the. cm'resptmding slot.2( )=and When-in Athis Position the end Wall may-'be'swung about the axis defined by the Vrivetsf21. Vfhenj the end wall oecu pies la horizont-al position itmay he. drawn forwardly. the. Lheildj 23 of 4each rivet sliding along the marron( slot 20 of the correspondingviiangferu'ntil t l 1 e.-liead AOlthe ri vet.- enters the oth'ereircular opening ivhere- 'itis Yin uponthe end wall may be swung about the axis 'defined by the rivets. One of the openings, for example the opening 20", may be dispensed with .if desired, although it is more convenient to have both openings. lVhen the end wall is properly positioned, whetherwith one or the other side up, its rear edge is supported upon suitable brackets 22' projecting from therear wall 1 of the box.

That edge of thc plate 16 which is opposite to the flange 19 is provided with an inwardly extending recess R wliichforms a suitable passagev or wire-Wayfor the conductors leading from thev interior of the box to a meter mounted' above vthe box. As-here shown this recessA is 'aY substantially rectangular formatiorn B'Ordering this recess but spaced from theedge thereofsare ang-le bars each comprising a flange 25fsecuredbyY rivets .to the face ofthe-plate land aflange 27 at right angles to the flange 25 and-preferably integral therewith. The flanges 2 7-project from the same face-'ofthe plate 16 as the flanges 17, --18 and 19 and supportashelf member 28 spaced from thefsu'rface offtheplate 16 and having-flanges 2'9`wlx`ich aresecuredto-the flanges 27 by rivets30.*'^;" l Y i A The end-portions of the shelf 28 are relatively wide andi overhang' that part-ofthe plate A1f`6g`which is intermediate the edge of the recess Ria'nd the flange 27, but that portion of the' shelfl which rextends alo'ng the transverse part of the flange 27-'is cut away so as to leave a rlatiyely narrow portion 30 which exposes apart 31of" the underlying plate 16. The transversely extending part 27vwhich may be integral With andy extend lbetween the flange 27 is provided with a shallow recess 32 to accommodate-meters of certain type as .hereafter :referred to. f The recess R extends inwardly asabove described frornfone of the transverse edges of the erid wall 6 and. preferably -t-erminates short of'thefront tojrear center of the end wallji 'Aff that Vportion of `the 'plate 16v intermediate"the flange27 andi the' flange 19v :in opening B-,preferablycircular.' is provided which 'is normally covered by a plate 34 (Fig. 9)-removably'secured in position inl any des'iredfmanner, ,as'forfexamplq by providing it with -ears'35 'projecting through the opening andhaving apertures for the reception of the en ds of a pin 36f-whose -endsoverlie the edges of the opening 'This plate is preferably posit-ionedat the-side ofthe end wall 6 opposite to that to which the flanges 25 are secured sol that theside'? of the'end wall is relatively smoothand -free from projections i Referring to Fig. 1, a meter is shown in broken lines as mounted upon the upper end Wall of the box` the end wall occupying the position indicated in Fig. 13. This meter M is provided-with a. downwardlv cxteudinl" terminal casing 3R having supports 39 which rest upon the shelf 28and support the meter in position, the downwardly; projecting tongue 40 of the meter casing being situated in the recess 32 of the flange 27. Vith the parts thus positioned the conductors .which extend up from the box through the recess R into the casing of the meter are fully prov tected throughout their entire length so that it is impossible to tamper with them Vfor'thcI purpose of stealing electric current..

In Fig. 2 the meter Ma is provided vritha dowm-vardly projecting conduitI casing 10: which fits snugly in thesocket providedlby: the flange 27. In Fig; 3 the meter lMhasfa downwardly projecting conduit cajsingv,4 41 which fits within the space, de fnedgby the inner edge of the .shelf 28. Theflend wallof thebox is thus adapted when Yrxradefin-the manner above described tooaccommodate Ineters of various standard t-ypes vhen theend wall is arranged as shown in Figl.. f

. In Fig. 4 a meter Mc ifs'shqwn associated with the box, such meter beingconncctezdto the box by meansof a metallic conduit 42.','10 adapt the box for association with this,.typc of meter the box cover is firstzopenedj and the end wall 6 is drawn forwardlyluntil.the rirets 23 are disposed in tli0. opcnings 2-l inthe flangeslT and .18, whereupoiijl tbe,.f9 1:ward edge of the end wall ,issyvtinglupiyardly as indicated in-- Fig. 14 about the; axis defined by th e ri vets and then swung, rearward yi and downwardly` into 'horizontal .p9 .ti91ii|=.`s shown in Fig. 15. 1 T hepin hbeingremjoyel', the, cover 34 iS. taken @fir-ausl. .the @Ibai-#$.16 conduit is' secured ini the ,:opending .for exl-impl by means of, clamping nuts 43, apdktl iii-4 if .'r' '2 i The door or cover 5 of'the box furnished with marginal flanges 9 at its lonjerlanyerl ticalfedsesf ransat-itstop .inserirliat enge 1o. which is,s1ubsaniia1nwidr, .the flanges 1' 9 and adapted,}yh en thelen wall member 'occupies .the positipnZ-i icptedfjiii end wall -is positioned. .forassociation 'wlrtlna meter suehas shown. ilnFig.v f1 the-recessR-is Closed whenever thboxrover iscles'ediiiitli: out necessitating the provi-sion of a sepa-raie closure elementwhichmight easilybe lostor misplaced.

The slots 2.Qrlpermit 'the'end viral]i as -an entirety to `be i movedjbodily forward out". of its normal position .infengagmentyvith' .the back wall while positively andhpermanently connected with the side walls., .Afterthee'nd wall has been moved outwardly 'it i can l,be swung ldownwardly'into aA vertical position so as to not interfere with the' workmen installing t-he meter. These movements, when the meter is installed, makes the.4 loweijeiid of the meter terminal casing more-accessible.

Prior to installation of themetenthe end wall of the box is also arrangedl in the position shown in Fig. l5,l the coverlllbeingstill attached to theendwallso thatit completely l in inside of the box, and means to prevent removal of said end wall from the box :ind a cover having a llange closing said opening when adjacent to the front of the box.

8. A switch box comprising side walls and an end wall having an opening extending inwardly from one edge, said end waii being provided upon one side with projecting ineinbers embracing the axis or said opening and having sures of dill'crent contour cach in .extending-:inwardly from one edge and a member projecting from one oi its aces forming a socket for the reception of the ter- `minal casing of an electric meter, said socicc't embracing the axis of said opening, said end' wallA having 'a' second opening therethrough between the inner margin of the socket and tlle edge; of thewall remote from the socket,

said: opening being adapted to receive a con- 'ducti` conduitlleading'to a meter of another type, the end wall being pivoted and reversibl'to'e'xpose either side to the exterior wherebyito position-either the socket, or said opening to. cooperate with a meter, a seal for said' opening and a cover for said box, having a flange closing the second opening when adjacent to the front of the box.

10. A switch box having an end wall with an opening extending inwardly from one of its edges, flanges projecting from one side or the end wall substantially atright angles to the plane thereof, and other flanges substantially parallel to the surface of said end wall but spaced therefrom, the several flanges respectively embracing the axis of said opening and defining sockets of different contour adapted to receive the terminal casings of electric meters of different size and contour.

11. A. switch box having side walls and an end wall, the end wall having a recess or opening extending inwardly from one of its transverse edges, an upwardly projecting flange bordering but spaced from the edge o said recess, said flange defining a socket for the rcception of the terminal casing of an electric meter, and pivot means connect-ing the end wall to the side walls and permitting that side of the end wall having the projecting flange to be turned inwardly or outwardly and :i cover having a flange adapted to close said opening when said projecting flange is tannczl inward.

12. A switch box having side walls and an end wall, the end wail having :i recess or opening extending inwardly from one of its transverso edges, an upwardly projecting Hangc bordering but spaced from the edge of said recess, a shelf projecting from the inner surface of said llange, the shelf being parallel to and overlying that part of' the end wall between the flange and the edge o the recess, said llange being narrow at certain parts to expose said underlying portion of the end wail, the contours of the llange and the inner edge oi the shelf being diilerent and corres ponding to the shape of the terminal casings of' electric meters of dillerent styles.

l). A switch box having side walls and an end wall, the end wall being reversible and having a recess or opening extending inwardly from one of' its transverse edges, an upwai-dl y projecting flange bordering but spaced from the edge oli said recess, a shelf projecting from the inner surface of said flange, the shelfv being parallel to and overlying that part of the end wall between tne llangeand the edge of the recess, said llange being narrow at certain parts to expose said underlying portion of the end wall, the flange and shelf cooperating to form sockets of different contour for electric meters ol; difl'erent styles, and pivot means connecting the end wall to the box and permitting the end` wall to be reversed toexpose said sockets at the outside of thebox or alternativelyto dispose them inside of the b ox and xa. cover havingfa. flange closing said opening when said flanges are within said box.- A i i 14. A. switch box having side walls and n n end wall, the end wa'll ha'vinga recess or opening extending inwardly from one of its transverse edges, an upwardly' projecting flange bordering but spaced from the edge of said recess, said end wall being pivotally supported so that it may be turned to bring its recessed edge at the front of the' box with the bordering flange inside of the box, and means for closing said recess or opening when the end wall is so positioned.

15. A switch box having side walls and an end wall, the end wall having a recess or opening extending inwardly from one of its transverse edges, an upwardly projecting flange bordering but spaced from-the edge of said recess, said end wall being pivotally supported so that it may be turned to bring its recessed edge at the front of the box with the bordering flange inside of the box, and a cover for the box, said cover having a flange adapted to cover said recess or opening when the end wall is so positioned and the cover is closed.

16. A switch box having side Walls and an end wall, the end wall having a recess or opening extending inwardly from one of its transverse edges, an upwardly projecting flange bordering but spaced from the edge of said recess, the opposite side of the end wa li bei ng substantially smooth, means pivotalij' supporting the end wall so that either its flanged surface or its lsmooth Surface may be turned inwardly, and a hinged cover for the box having an inwardly turned marginal flange, said flange overlapping the front edge of the end wall when the cover is Closed und concealing said recess when the smooth side of tlieend wall is turned outwardly.

I17'. In an 'el'e'ctric meter protecting cabinet 'adapted for enclosing a current controllingl appliance, tli'e combination with the back and side Walls of the cabinet, of an end Wall constructed yfor protective association with an 'electric meter normally positioned perpendicnlarly to 'tlie said back and side Walls vso as 'to sn'bstantially close `tlic 'cabinet zit-one "end", and means for lpositively and perinaiei'itly conncctii'rg ithe said end Wall with ootlr'of 'the' side \valls,4tl`ie said means 'per- 'init-ting theernl will as an entirety to he moved loo-dily forward ont 'of its normal positi'on 'iin engagement with the said back Wall AWhile positively and permanently connected with the 'said side .walls "as aforesaid.

'In an eleetricmeter protecting cabinet adapted for "eirelosmg acurrent controlling appliance, tliecombination with the lmc'k and side Wal-ls of the cabinet, of an ende-'ail con- :strn'e'ted "for :protective lassociation with an electric imete'iwand -normally positioned perpndi'cnl'arlyto Ithe said back andlside Walls sia's to slist'antially 'close the cabinet atfone end,and*meansffdpositiyelyfandpermanently connecting the said end Wall with 'both'o' the saidlside 'Wa-llss'o asto-prm'i-t the-end wall larly about a transverse horizontal axis While remaining so connected.

19. In an electric meter protecting cabinet adapted for enclosing a current controlling appliance, the combination with the back and side walls of the cabinet, of an end wall constructcd for protective association with an electric meter normally positioned perpendiculnrly to the said hack and side Walls so as to substantially close tlie cabinet at one end, and means for positively and permanently connecting the siiidfend wall with both of the side Walls, the said means permitting the end wall as :in entii ,ty to lie moved out of its normal position in 'engagon'ient with the .said back wall, while positively and permanently connected with the -Saidside .Walls as aforesaid, to facilitate the installation of the meter.

20. A switch boxr comprisinfgside walls and an end wall, said Yend Wall havingva-,pair of openings of different contour'd-isposedvirespectively, one i'n-one of its transversev edgesAa-nd the other adjacent to the oppositeedge., .said

end Wall being pivot-ally snpportedftofperm-it .it to be reversed, a seal :for said second opening-positioning means for the .seal accessible from one side only 'of the end Wall7 and a cover fli'avi-ng allange W-liioh noiaaaalrly'eovers to said cover. v

- Signed =by fns 4atCarrilar-idoe, Elliassaohmsette,

.this tw-miiyeixaiafiy if filme, '1925. l'GRAUVQYDLE JE.- PALMER.' ST fJQHAeNSSON. 

